223 vs 556: What’s the Difference?

The 223 Remington and 5.56 NATO share identical case dimensions but are not fully interchangeable—the difference comes down to chamber pressure and how each barrel is cut. The potential for poor precision when shooting 223 Remington ammunition in a 5.56 NATO rifle, and the worry of an explosive disassembly when shooting 5.56 NATO ammunition in a 223 Remington rifle, is what led to the 223 Wylde. Your best bet is to shoot 223 Remington hunting ammunition, but if you cannot find a load that shoots well in your rifle, one of the best deer and feral hog options in 5.56 NATO is the Barnes VOR-TX load that uses the 62-grain Barnes TSX bullet .